Stronger laws, swift punishment for rapists: Kejriwal

New Delhi, Dec 21 (IANS) Demanding strong laws and swift punishment to curb rapes, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal Friday lashed out at political parties, saying they gave tickets to rapists to contest elections.

"Political parties are giving tickets to people who have rape and murder charges against them. If their legislators sit and watch blue films, what kind of justice do we expect from them. It is a hardcore political problem," Kejriwal said.

"Everyone knows Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislators have been caught watching blue films and many parties like Samajwadi Party and AIADMK have given tickets to such legislators," he said.

Kejriwal was reacting to the brutal gang-rape of a 23-year-old woman in a moving bus by six men Sunday night in south Delhi. The victim is battling for her life in Safdarjung Hospital.

He also demanded a law to complete trials of all rape cases within two months.

"It's not a question of capital punishment. It's a question of swiftness and certainty of punishment. Then only will these rapes stop", Kejriwal said.

"We need a strong law to tackle the menace. This case has shocked us all. Society as a whole needs to introspect," he said.

He added that passing the buck would not help and the entire political spectrum needs to introspect.

Kejriwal added: "The proposal to set up five fast-track courts in Delhi to try rape cases is insufficient seeing the number of rape cases already lodged. It's a half-hearted and incomplete step."

According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), in 2011 there were 522 rape cases in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR), the highest in any metro city in the country. In 2012, reported rape cases have gone up to 651.